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Area alum sprinkled in college volleyball ranks

Orange Park High’s Sara Dandridge, No. 7, has steadily positioned herself to be a major contributor to the Valdosta State University volleyball program.

Orange Park’s LaKia Bright is major power force for University of Central Florida attack.

Middleburg High alum Maddie Erwin brings two successful years at Indian River State College to Flagler College.

Clay High’s Taja Valmyr has been steady weapon on the net for Flagler College volleyball success.

Posted
Wednesday, August 9, 2017 12:00 pm

Special from Flaglerathletics.com

Saints add Maddie Erwin

ST. AUGUSTINE – Maddie Erwin, a 5-foot-7 defensive specialist/libero, will join the 2017 Flagler College volleyball team, head coach Matt Affolder announced on Monday. She is the eighth newcomer for the Saints, which includes Victoria Bowrosen, Raquel Kulak, Jessica Lodge, Cadie O’Hern, Karlie Redfern, Regan Swift and Jordan Taylor.“We are thrilled to add Maddie Erwin to our 2017 recruiting class,” said Affolder. “To have a talented local product (Middleburg High School) join our program is exciting, and we know Maddie can make us better in the back court. She is an experienced player and has received tremendous training from her high school coach, Carrie Prewitt, as well as her junior college coach, Stephanie Skidmore, at Indian River State College. Flagler volleyball fans will see a hard-nosed player with good ball control and defensive skills, as well as someone with a wicked topspin jump serve. We were fortunate in that Maddie had been evaluated/recruited while in high school by assistant coaches Kelly Pickett and Pete Sproules, and their knowledge of who Maddie is on and off-court was a major factor in her recruitment. I know Maddie will blend immediately with our current team and she has the drive and competitiveness to push for playing time from day one.”Erwin transfers in to Flagler from Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida. She was a two-time All-Southern Conference selection for the Pioneers. Erwin led the team with 431 digs (4.1 per set) and 38 service aces (0.36 per set). As a freshman, she led the team with 543 digs (4.56 per set) and was second on the team in service aces with 44. Erwin helped lead the Pioneers to their first-ever conference title. At Middleburg, she helped lead the Broncos to a pair of final four appearances at the state tournament. Erwin played for the Middleburg Volleyball Academy club team. Erwin joins Clay High graduate Taja Valmyr on the Flagler roster. Valmyr, an incoming senior hitter had 24 starts in the Saints 31 games last year with 200 kills, 247 digs and 29 blocks. Valmyr ws named to the 2016 Peachbelt Conference All-Tournament team after being the 2015 tournament MVP. Valmyr has been a key player since her freshman year in 2014. Flagler finished the season with a 24-7 overall record this season and posted a 16-2 record in the Peach Belt Conference, its most wins in league play since joining in 2009. Flagler is the two-time defending PBC Tournament champions. The Saints advanced to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional for the seventh time in the last eight years.Flagler has made two NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances and is the only conference school to win a match at that level.Flagler opens their season August 26 with their Crimson and Gold Scrimmage (7 p.m.) before hosting Lane, Shippensburg, Florida Tech and Purdue Northwest in the Flagler Saints Invitational on Sept. 1-2.

Dandridge to be key player for Lady BlazersVALDOSTA-Orange Park High volleyball product Sara Dandridge, now a junior at Valdosta State University (GA), returns after starting 16 matches for the Blazers last year with 36 kills and 609 assists from her back defender position. Dandridge was top five for the Blazers in digs with 165 with a career high in assists of 51 in a three-game match in October against Nova Southeastern. Dandridge registered 12 kills against Eckerd University as a career best as a freshman. Valdosta opens their season on September 1 with Flagler visiting Valdosta September 26 in match play.

Bright back for final year at Central FloridaORLANDO - Orange Park High volleyball product Kia Bright enters her senior year at the University of Central Florida with a All-American Athletic Conference First Team nod last year and a career-best 379 digs in her third year as a Lady Knight. Bright played her first year of college volleyball at Auburn University with 14 matches played with 95 kills.After transferring to Central Florida, Bright put her stamp on the floor with an honorable mention All-America selection and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-region first team pick. As a sophomore, Bright had 10 or more kills in 32 of 45 matches played in and was a tournament MVP at the Omaha Classic. Last year, Bright continued her net dominance with a 333-kill season with 19 double-digit kills game efforts.Central Florida entes 2017 with a road trip to Colorado Aug. 25-26 before returning home to the Sunshine State Challenge in Ft. Myers where she may face off with St. Johns Country Day School standout Madison Dill, a sophomore blocker at the University of Miami. As a freshman, Dill had a kill and two blocks in her Hurricanes debut against Florida A&M. In her first start, Dill powered to five kills and three blocks against Florida International University Central Florida gets to their home court September 15 against Virginia and Ole Miss on September 17.